Executive functions and symptom severity in an Italian sample of intellectually able preschoolers with autism spectrum disorder

A novel battery (BAFE; Valeri etal. 2015) was used in order to assess three executive function (EF) abilities (working memory, inhibition and shifting) in a sample of 27 intellectually able preschoolers with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) compared with 27 typically developing children matched on age and nonverbal IQ. Differences in EF skills were analyzed in participants with distinct ASD symptom severity. Children with ASD performed worse than typical controls on both set-shifting and inhibition, but not on visuo-spatial working memory. Additionally, children with more severe ASD symptoms showed a worse performance on inhibition than children with milder symptoms. These results confirm the presence of EF deficits and highlight a link between ASD symptoms and EF impairments in preschool age

Effects of CD2 locus control region sequences on gene expression by retroviral and lentiviral vectors

Abstract Locus control region (LCR) sequences are involved in the establishment of open chromosomal domains. To evaluate the possibility of exploiting the human CD2 LCR to regulate gene expression by Moloney murine leukemia virus (Mo-MLV)–based retroviral vectors in T cells, it was included in vectors carrying the enhanced green fluorescence protein (EGFP) reporter gene; then transduction in vitro of lymphoid and nonlymphoid cell lines was performed. Deletion of the viral enhancer in the Mo-MLV long terminal repeat was necessary to detect LCR activity in the context of these retroviral vectors. It was found that a full-length (2.1 kb), but not a truncated (1.0 kb), CD2 LCR retained the ability to modulate reporter gene expression by Mo-MLV–derived retroviral vectors, leading to a homogeneous, unimodal pattern of EGFP expression that remained unmodified in culture over time, specifically in T-cell lines; on the other hand, viral titer was strongly reduced compared with vectors not carrying the LCR. Lentiviral vectors containing the CD2 LCR could be generated at higher titers and were used to analyze its effects on gene expression in primary T cells. Subcutaneous implantation of genetically modified cells in immunodeficient mice showed that retroviral vectors carrying the CD2 LCR conferred an advantage in terms of transgene expression in vivo, compared with the parental vector, by preventing the down-modulation of EGFP expression. These findings suggest a potential application of this LCR to increase gene expression by retroviral and lentiviral vectors in T lymphocytes

2023 roadmap for potassium-ion batteries

The heavy reliance of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) has caused rising concerns on the sustainability of lithium and transition metal and the ethic issue around mining practice. Developing alternative energy storage technologies beyond lithium has become a prominent slice of global energy research portfolio. The alternative technologies play a vital role in shaping the future landscape of energy storage, from electrified mobility to the efficient utilization of renewable energies and further to large-scale stationary energy storage. Potassium-ion batteries (PIBs) are a promising alternative given its chemical and economic benefits, making a strong competitor to LIBs and sodium-ion batteries for different applications. However, many are unknown regarding potassium storage processes in materials and how it differs from lithium and sodium and understanding of solid–liquid interfacial chemistry is massively insufficient in PIBs. Therefore, there remain outstanding issues to advance the commercial prospects of the PIB technology. This Roadmap highlights the up-to-date scientific and technological advances and the insights into solving challenging issues to accelerate the development of PIBs. We hope this Roadmap aids the wider PIB research community and provides a cross-referencing to other beyond lithium energy storage technologies in the fast-pacing research landscape

The rise of X-ray spectroscopies for unveiling the functional mechanisms in batteries

International audienceSynchrotron-based techniques have been key tools in the discovery, understanding, and development of battery materials. In this review, some of the most suitable X-ray spectroscopy related techniques employed for addressing diverse scientific cases connected to battery science are highlighted. Furthermore, current shortcomings, intrinsic limitations, and ongoing challenges of individual techniques are pointed out, providing an outlook of future trends that are relevant to the battery research community. In particular, the ongoing development of next generation synchrotrons, machine learning algorithms for data analysis and combined theoretical/experimental approaches will enhance the already powerful assets of these advanced spectroscopic method

Nursing's professional dignity in palliative care: Exploration of an Italian context

Aims and objectives: To determine the relevance of nursing's professional dignity in palliative care. Background: Dignity is a valued concept in the ethical discourse of health disciplines. Nursing's professional dignity, a concept related to professional identity, is not clearly defined nor have its characteristics been delineated for its clinical relevance in palliative care. Design: A qualitative methodological approach. Methods: Focus groups elicited dialogues of nursing's professional dignity among 69 nurses working in hospices and home-care in Italy. Data were content-analysed via an inductive process. The COREQ checklist for qualitative studies was used for reporting this research. Results: A central theme related to (a) "Intrinsic dignity of persons" was embedded in the essence of palliative care. Several corollary themes underscored this central theme: (b) Professional (intra- and inter) relationships and teamwork; (c) Nursing professionalism; (d) Ethical dilemmas; and (e) Relationships with patients and their significant persons. Conclusions: Nurses valued the essence of respect as persons and the essence of respect for their work as coherent with intrinsic dignity and work dignity in palliative care. Nurses perceived their psycho-social relationships with patients and their families as rewarding incentives amidst disputatious interactions with peers and/or other healthcare professionals. They experienced ethical dilemmas, which they perceived as inherent in palliative care. Relevance to clinical practice: Study findings corroborate the literature regarding the concept of nursing's professional dignity which is intrinsic in respect of the human person. The intrinsic dignity in palliative care manifests as nurses are working in juxtaposition of a demanding yet rewarding care ambience

Solvent-Free Mechanochemical Approach towards Thiospinel MgCr 2 S 4 as a Potential Electrode for Post-Lithium Ion Batteries

International audienceSeveral new compounds, with desirable properties of ion mobility and working voltage, have been recently proposed using a density functional theory (DFT) computational approach as potential electrode materials for beyond-lithium battery systems. After evaluation of the 'energy above hull', thiospinel MgCr 2 S 4 has been suggested as interesting multivalent battery cathode candidate, even though the synthesis of its exact stoichiometry poses serious challenges. In this work, MgCr 2 S 4 is prepared using an innovative mechanochemical route starting from magnesium or magnesium hydride, chromium, and sulfur powders. The progress of such mechanically induced reaction as a function of processing time is carefully monitored by XRD with Rietveld refinement, evidencing the occurrence of a mechanically induced self-propagating reaction (MSR). The effect of parameters associated with the milling apparatus (impact energy) on the products composition are also investigated. To our knowledge, this work represents the first report of the scalable and simple mechanical alloying synthesis of thiospinel MgCr 2 S 4 (space group Fd-3 m, a = 10.09 Å) and opens up interesting possibilities for the exploitation of such material in next-generation post-lithium batteries

V^IV disproportionation upon sodium extraction from Na3V2(PO4)2F3 observed by operando x-ray absorption spectroscopy and solid-state NMR

Among the series of polyanionic positive electrodes for sodium-ion batteries having the general formula Na3V2(PO4)2F3–yOy (0 ≤ y ≤ 2), the composition Na3V2(PO4)2F3 (y = 0) has the highest theoretical energy that offers competitive electrochemical performances compared to sodium transition metal oxides. Recently, the structural phase diagram from Na3V2(PO4)2F3 to Na1V2(PO4)2F3 has been thoroughly investigated by operando synchrotron X-ray diffraction revealing an unexpected structural feature for the end member composition. In fact, the crystal structure of Na1V2(PO4)2F3 has two very different vanadium environments within each bioctahedron that suggests a charge disproportionation of two VIV into VIII and VV. This work shows an operando X-ray absorption spectroscopy at vanadium K edge during the electrochemical extraction of Na+ in order to monitor the redox processes involved in this compound. The large data set provided by this experiment has been processed by the principal component analysis combined with multivariate curve resolution. The results suggest that the bioctahedra have to be considered as the basic structural unit. The peculiar geometry of this material combined with the mixed vanadium valence, directly investigated here along the reaction, seems to allow original electronic configurations. In particular, the two vanadium sites into the basic bioctahedra unit evolve from VIII–VIII to VIII–VIV and to a final VIII–VIV configuration. These observations are completed with 51V NMR sensitive to diamagnetic V^V.Laboratory of excellency for electrochemical energy storageBatteries à ions sodium pour des robots télécommandésNa-Ion bAttery Demonstration for Electric Storag

Understanding the lithiation/delithiation mechanism of Si(1-x)Ge(x) alloys

International audienceGexSi1−x alloys have demonstrated synergetic effects as lithium-ion battery (LIB) anodes, because silicon brings its high lithium storage capacity and germanium its better electronic and Li ion conductivity. Previous studies primarily focused on intricate nanostructured alloys with high costs of production, but here we studied the simpler Si0.5Ge0.5 alloy as a composite electrode. The electrochemical mechanism is explored by a combination of in situ and operando techniques such as powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS), Raman spectroscopy and 7Li solid state nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR), all providing unique and complementary information about phase transformations during cycling. In this way amorphization of c-Si0.5Ge0.5 upon lithiation (discharging) and crystallization of a new phase at the end of the discharge have been identified. Additionally, an evolution of the refined cell parameters was observed and related to an overlithiation process. The crystallinity of Si0.5Ge0.5 was not restored upon charging (delithiation) and an amorphous phase was obtained. Lastly, an improved understanding of the electrochemical mechanism of Si1−xGex alloys is mandatory for assessing their viability as LIB anodes